Creation Wines has won two regional awards in the 2025 Great Wine Capitals (GWC) Best of Wine Tourism Awards, which recognise outstanding achievements in wine tourism across the world’s most significant wine regions. Each GWC award acknowledges exceptional offerings or services that make a positive impact on local wine tourism, distinguishing winners as leaders in the industry.
Creation is no newcomer to the GWC stage, having won regional as well as global awards several times since 2010, in categories ranging from Art & Culture to Best Restaurant and Most Innovative Experience. This year, the Hemel-en-Aarde estate has been recognised as a leader in Wine Tourism Services and Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices, much to the delight of co-owner and creative director Carolyn Martin.
‘Wine tourism plays a pivotal role in our region’s economy,’ she says. ‘Through our dedicated team of 85 skilled employees, we directly support the livelihoods of over 250 individuals. Furthermore, each international visitor to Creation supports an additional 11 jobs, both within our estate and the broader community. This multiplier effect contributes to the overall economic growth of the Western Cape, particularly in rural areas. By investing in our people and supporting the local community, Creation is proud to be a catalyst for positive change and sustainable development.’
She adds: ‘Sustainability is at the core of everything we do at Creation. It is deeply rooted in our terroir and in our community, and our guests experience this from the moment they arrive, walking through our indigenous gardens which showcase nature-inspired art to reach our Tasting Room with its indoor biome. Guided vineyard walks offer firsthand experiences of our biodiversity and conservation efforts, while our food pairing menus highlight local sourcing and transparent supply chains. Digital tools such as QR codes provide access to videos highlighting our commitment to environmental, social and economic responsibility, but above all it is our dedicated staff who are equipped with in-depth knowledge to share our story, leaving a lasting impression on visitors.’
Visitor experiences at Creation include wine tasting, wine and food pairings, educational vineyard and/or cellar tours, nature walks, art and culture experiences, immersive stays, and talks on topics ranging from viticultural geology and climate change to wellness and the neuroscience of taste. In addition, Creation works tirelessly with Overberg-based artists, artisanal producers, event organisers, local government and leading establishments such as Grootbos Private Nature Reserve and Marine Hotel Hermanus to promote wine tourism in the Overberg (listed as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy since 2019). The estate also actively engages with the broader industry though collaborations with WWF-SA, Wesgro, WOSA and Stellenbosch University, not to mention its international collaborations with the likes of OBREAL, VitaGlobal, the Erasmus+ Wine Tourism Innovation programme in Girona, international hotel chains (e.g. Handpicked Hotels) and prestigious wine clubs such as 67 Pall Mall.
‘In addition to offering our own exceptional wine tourism experiences at Creation, we invest considerable effort towards promoting South Africa as a premier fine wine destination,’ says Carolyn. ‘This award for Creation is not just for our team, it’s for all of us Hermanus, our region and the Western Cape and South Africa.’
Social handles: @creationwines @greatwinecapitals
#GreatWineCapitals #WineTourism #Sustainabletravel #creationnation #creationinnovation #hemelenaarde #hermanus #southafrica #wosaSA
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Enquiries:
Carolyn Martin
carolyn@creationwines.com
+27 72 673 1880